Airship.



T. R. MACMECHEN & w. v. KAMP.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. I916.

PatentedMar. 13,1917.

3 SHEETSQSHEET 1.

T. R. MAw/iESHH-i a W. V. KAMP.

AHiSHH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 19 16= 1. 21 Patented Mar. 13,1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

T. R. MACMECHEN & w. v. KAMP AIRSH IP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22,1916.

Patented Mar. 1:3;1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- THOMAS IR. MACMECHEN AND WALTER V. KAMP, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIRSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 13, 1917.

Application filed June 22, 1916. Serial No. 105,095.

cation.

This invention relates to frame-work structures composed'of girders or girderlike elements, the chief object being to so devise such structures that the maximum strength will be obtained with the minimum weight of material, in order that they may be applicable to airsh'ips, and to other purposes where these characteristics are essential.

According to this invention the structure comprises continuous spiral arches which extend throughout its length in such a manner that the structural advantages of the arch are utilized to the fullest extent, thereby enabling the said structure to effectively withstand the stresses it is liable to experience when in use. The continuous spiral arches constitute the foundation or basic element of the structure and are formed of trussed girder-like members in which the compression elements are disposed radially with respect to the longitudinal axis of the structure.

The aforesaid foundation or basic element of the structure may be strengthened or reinforced by means of longitudinal girders, to which the convolutions of the spiral members may be braced or secured with the same object in view.

To obtain increased strength the continuous spiral arches may be arranged to intercross in such a manner that the structural advantages of the triangle are obtained in addition to those of the arch. In this case the spiral arches may be formed-of a number of right hand and left hand spiral trussed girder members suitably pitched or spaced apart, and intercrossed at intervals along their length to form an arched lattice-like structure of great strength and rigidity.

The spiral trussed members, as also the longitudinal members, may be arranged in the manner previously described so that the compression elements thereof are radially disposed with respect to the longitudlnal axis of the structure. It will be understood that the resulting structure is of tubular formation, and owing to its construction offers great resistance to internal and external forces. Moreover, owing to the arched and triangular arrangement of its elements it presents considerable rigidity to buckling and sagging.

In the constitution alike of the longitudinal and spiral girder members, where these are composed of laminated wood, a particular formation and arrangement is resorted to, wherein the longitudinal girders, each consisting of separated parallel bars, with connecting struts, and trussing of tension members, may receive between said bars both the right hand and left hand spiral girders, which intercross within said longitudinal girders.

The right hand and left hand spiral girders may be of equaldepth, and of the same structural constitution as the longitudinal girders, but, for example, the outside depth of each spiral girder is less, by the extent of one of its bars, than the inside depth of one of the longitudinal girders. Thus, for example, a. right hand spiral girder passing diagonally through a longitudinal girder, may rest upon one barof the longitudinal girder, and leave a clearance between it and the other bar of said longitudinal girder; Whereas the left hand girder, also passing through the same longitudinal girder, may be superposed upon the right hand spiral girder bar which as stated rests upon one bar of the longitudinal girder, while the other bar of the left hand spiral girder lies within the clearance aforesaid. Thus may be effected a snugly interfitting connection between the respective parallel bars of the longitudinal and spiral girders.

Other features and advantages of our said invention will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partial longitudinal view,

broken away, of an airship embodying our Fig. -l is an elevation of a girder section. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the interrelation of a longitudinal girder with opposite spiral girders.

Fig. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional view showing the inter-relation of longitudinal, spiral and polygonal or hoop girders.

Fig. 7 is a partial View, in perspective, of the longitudinal and spiral girders in their relative arrangement, and

Fig. 8 is a detail explanatory view, perspective, of Fi 7.

In creating a ollow or tubular frame structure for an airship we provide a series of longitudinal girders, suitably spaced apart, and arranged and supported by known means. These girders are indicated.

in the accompanying drawings by the numeral 1, and composed of the spaced parallel bars 2, 3, which are connected by struts or compression members l, that are disposed, at suitable distances apart, throughout the length of said girders. Fastening means, as thestraps '5, may be employed to unite the struts to the bars, and crossed tension members or strands 6 may extend diagonally between said bars.

The bars 2, 3, are seen to consist each of a number of laminae, which may be glued or cemented together in any known method of producing laminated material. WVhile the lengths of the laminae in a bar may be equal, they may bear staggered longitudinal relation to each other, so that their joints may not all coincide, but, occurring at different points in the length of the bar, allow the production of a continuous, interlocked member. Preferably, the joints in a lamina may occur in line with the axes of the connecting struts 4, thereby avoiding such weakening of the bar as would result if a joint in one lamina occurred within the span between struts. Thus, the joints in the respective laminae are shown at 7, where the bars are connected to and reinforced by the struts. The strut ends may have a tenon 8, to enter mortise 9 on the opposed surface of the bars, which thus aids in the alinement of the members in assembling them in girder formation.

In carrying out our tubular frame construction wherein a series of parallel, longitudinal girders are arranged in radial symmetry, and for the production of the combined arch and triangle effect, we enter a series of parallel spiral girders between the spaced bars 2, 3, traversing the girth of the structure in one oblique direction, and we enter another series of parallel spiral girders between said spaced bars 2, 8, traversing the girth of said structure in the opposite oblique direction. The spiral girders aforesaid are respectively composed of the bars 10, 11; and 12, 13; the bars in each instance being in spaced parallelism, and connected by the struts 14, and tension strands 15. Said spiral girders may be of laminated material, and resemble thelongitudinal girders 1 in their general construction. Said spiral girders are adapted-to interfit with each other and with the longitudinal girders, to which end said spiral girders may be of equal depth, but of less depth than the longitudinal girders. Thus the bar 10 of the right hand spiral girder may rest upon the inner surface of the bar 3, while a clearance is left between its bar 11 and the inner surface of the bar 2. This arrangement allows the bar 12 of the left hand spirahgirder to rest upon the inner surface of the bar 10, while its bar 13 occupies the clearance between bars 11 and 2. Hence inter-engagement exists between the several girder elements at their points of intersection, whereby each is reinforced by the other, and the arch and triangle arrangement is established. The struts 14 for the oppositely directed spiral girders may respectively be positioned adjacent to the points of intersection between said girders and the longitudinal girders.

In Figs. 2 and 6 will be seen an example of hoop girders 16, in polygonal form, which intersect with the longitudinal girders to comprise the main airship frame structure. It will be noted in these figures that the longitudinal girders employed are composed of three parallel bars 17, 18, and 19, with connecting, radial struts 20, 21, arranged in endwise opposed relation, the central bar 18 being connected with the opposed ends of its struts 20, 21, by means of fastening plates 22 (see Fig. 3).

The gas bags ,or compartments 23, contained between the inner members of the frame structure, are separated by said frame structure from the outer envelop 24, and hence a circular passage is provided all around the gas bags, or compartments, between them and the envelop, for the passage of a temperature varying medium.

We claim:--

- 1. A tubular frame composed of parallel longitudinal girders and opposite, parallel spiral girders, all of said .girders comprising spaced bars, the bars of opposite spiral girders intersecting in alternate relation with each other, and also intersecting with the bars of said longitudinal girders, whereby said girders provide a combined arch and triangle effect in said frame.

2. A tubular frame composed of parallel longitudinal girders and opposite, parallel spiral girders, all of said girders comprising spaced bars, the bars of opposite spiral girders intersecting in alternate relation with each other, and also intersecting with the bars of said longitudinal girders, whereby said girders provide a combined arch and triangle effect in said frame, said spiral girders being of equal depth and lying between the bars of said longitudinal girders.

3. A girder consisting of spaced, parallel bars, each composed of laminated material, and struts connecting said bars, at intervals, the laminae having their end joints in line with the axes of said struts.

4. A girder consisting of spaced, parallel extending obliquely, in crossed relation, bebars, each composed of laminated material, tween said bars. and struts connecting said bars, at intervals, Signed at borough of Manhattan, .in the respectivelaminae having their end joints in city, county and State of New York, this 15 5 longitiildinal stagge'rgd relation and in line 17th day of June, A. D. 1916. with t e axes of sai struts. 1 5. A girder consisting of spaced, parallel bars, each composed of-laminated material,

struts connecting said bars, at intervals, the Witnesses:

10 laminae having their end joints in line with CHAS. EDGAR,

the axes of said struts, and tension strands F. WVJBARKER. 

